Church Micro 9180...Ipswich - St Margaret Multi-cache

This cache has been archived.

bullocd: Archiving, always doubtful about the necessary relocation of final gz. Often replaced too high so I have to call in favours to help maintain. Now no longer possible :(. May rethink if someone doesn't beat me to it.

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Hidden : 2/25/2016
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:




The oldest part of St. Margaret’s Church dates back to the end of the 13th century, and was built by the priors of Holy Trinity Priory (which once stood on the site of the nearby Christchurch Mansion) to house the growing town population which could no longer be accommodated in the nave of the Priory Church which stood nearby.

The fine tower is a 19th century expansion on a 15th century base, the pinnacles along the south side, superb and apparently full of 15th century confidence, are also a Victorian addition. The transept is contemporary with the original tower. It housed the Roskin chantry, although it seems to predate this. The transept is flanked by fine turrets; the one to the west contains the roodloft stairway, but the eastern one also apparently contains a stairway, which is a curiosity. Perhaps an extension of the transept was planned, and this would have given access to a parclose.

While the interior of the church is not as fine as the exterior there is still much to see. The nave roof is a fine double-hammerbeam affair, resplendent with (albeit restored) original colouring. The angels were dispatched by our friend Dowsing, and replaced by the heraldic shields of the seriously rich. Its spreading was noted in the 19th century, so the tie beams were put in - but they are not too intrusive. When it was restored in the mid-1990s, it was possible to go up on the scaffolding, and actually reach out and touch the hammers.

To the east, the chancel is curiously low-brow in comparison with the rest of the church, though the east window is pretty. The Royal Arms of Charles II hang at the west end, and above the south door we find the Fleur de Lys of the Prince of Wales, as in a couple of other Ipswich churches. This may have been Royalist propaganda as they are dated 1660, a time when there was no Prince of Wales.

In front of the tower arch, there is the fine font. Now, this is heavily circumscribed, either in the 16th century by Anglicans or the 17th century by Puritans. The angels hold scrolls, and the writing on the scrolls has been defaced - except on one. This carries the words sal et saliva ('salt and saliva'). This refers to two of the elements of sacramental Baptism.

Back outside there is a blocked-up doorway in the churchyard wall, obviously the one used by the Withipolls and the later Fonnereaus on their way to Divine Service. It may even be old enough to be the one used by the Friars themselves.

----- Thanks to Simon Knott and suffolkchurches.co.uk for the detail in the history of the church -----

The cache is not at the church due to existing caches but is within a few minutes walk. Both the church and Final Location are wheelchair accessible although help might be needed to retrieve the cache itself. Stealth required!

The cache can be found at N52 A.BCD E01 E.FGH

The main entrance to the church itself is guarded by two lions whose numbers combined form a year ?E?A
The number of pillars at the entrance to the churchyard = B
The number of sides of each pillar + 1 = C
The sum of the First and Last digits of the year on the clock dial ?77?= H

And some simple maths to complete the numbers:

D = C - E
F = B + 1
G = A + 2

Happy hunting.

If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication

To view the church micro stats page, please click here



***Congratulations to ClaireITFC82 for FTF***

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp Anab Hc Uvtu Qvtvgf bs svany pbbeqf jura nqqrq gbtrgure jvyy rdhny 52

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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